Neighbours has announced that veteran Australian actor Russell Kiefel will be joining the soap as the Brennan brothers’ father.

But the arrival of their estranged dad Russell in Ramsay Street is not great news for Mark (Scott McGregor), Aaron (Matt Wilson) and Tyler (Travis Burns), as it emerges he used to be abusive to his sons.

Russell, who has previously appeared in Home And Away, said: “He has a lot of ground to make up with his boys and the challenge is to convince them that he is a changed man… but is he?”

Russell Kiefel will play Russell Brennan in Neighbours
Russell Kiefel will play Russell Brennan in Neighbours (Channel 5)

Tyler has the most rocky relationship with his father and the pair soon clash in the Channel 5 soap.

Travis said: “Such a great actor to work with, every scene you would learn something new from Russell. I’ve done some of the toughest emotionally driven scenes with Russell, and he has just been a great support.”

Russell will arrive in Erinsborough later this summer.